October/November Newsletter

Nov 08, 2012

Workshops on Doing Business in Middle East

Workshops in both Auckland and Wellington are currently being planned for late November/early December to provide NZMEBC members with direct access to those who are able to provide advice on doing business in the Middle East. The deferment of the construction delegation until March gives us this opportunity to provide members who are considering being part of the delegation with more information about what to expect and how to extract the maximum benefit from their visit to the region.

Alex Matheson, recently appointed as Special Envoy Government – Commercial Partnerships will talk about his recent trip to the Middle East investigating “New Zealand Inc” opportunities for public/private sector collaboration in areas such as environmental management and food security.Jeremy Clarke-Watson, who is returning to New Zealand from his post of First Secretary at the NZ Embassy in Saudi Arabia to take up the role of director of MFAT’s Auckland office, will also be available at the workshops to give his first-hand experience of operating in the Middle East.Dates and details of further panellists will be advised within the next week. If you want to pre-register your interest in the workshops, please email michelle.boag@nzmebc.org.nz.

New NZTE Regional Director for Middle East

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise has announced the appointment of Clayton Kimpton as the new Regional Director for India, Middle East and Africa. He will oversee key relationships across the region and be responsible for the operations of NZTE’s offices in Dubai, New Delhi and Mumbai. He will join NZTE in January 2013 and move to Dubai in April. NZMEBC Chairman Michael Vukcevic has welcomed the appointment of Mr Kimpton, who is an active member of the Council.

Mr Kimpton is a senior commercial advisor with over 24 years’ experience in all areas of commercial negotiation, international trade, employment, industrial relations, health and safety, and governance.He will join NZTE from commercial law firm Kensington Swan where he is Chief Executive Partner responsible for managing the business, leading key commercial development initiatives and maintaining an effective leadership structure.Clayton has led Kensington Swan’s international trade programme both for New Zealand clients and for Kensington Swan itself, liaising with advisers in the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Asia. He advises on the effects and implications for trade and investment of the proposed free trade agreement with the GCC (Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf).He was also a senior member of the trade and ministerial delegation to the Middle East in 2010 and a finalist in the Emerging International Business Leader Award at the 2010 International Business Awards.

Emirates Team New Zealand Breakfast Attracts Diverse Audience

A diverse group of 60 NZMEBC members and guests turned up to the Emirates Team New Zealand base last week to hear Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCullygive his perspective on New Zealand’s current commercial relationships with the Middle East , and to take advantage of a unique opportunity to see the Emirates Team New Zealand America’s Cup base.Emirates Team New Zealand Head Grant Daltonwas generous with his time, briefing members on the America’s Cup campaign and taking them to see the Emirates Team New Zealand catamaran being set up for the days’ sailing.NZMEBC Chairman Michael Vukcevic welcomed the support of Emirates for the event, and noted that Emirates offer special discounts for NZMEBC members travelling long haul either to or through the Middle East to other destinations. For further information on these members’ discounts please email info@nzmebc.org.nz.